Design Thinking for Urban Water Sustainability in Huelva’s Households: Needfinding and Synthesis through Statistic Clustering

Gustavo Bermejo-Martín, Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy and Yilsy M. Núñez-Guerrero
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Gustavo Bermejo-Martín: Department of Industrial Organization, Business Administration and Statistics, E.T.S. Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy: Department of Industrial Organization, Business Administration and Statistics, E.T.S. Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Yilsy M. Núñez-Guerrero: Department of Industrial Organization, Business Administration and Statistics, E.T.S. Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-26

Abstract: This article shows the numerical results and the analysis of households’ degree of knowledge about the urban water cycle, needs, and values regarding water in an intermediary city with low water stress, such as Huelva (Andalusia, Spain). Results are also presented regarding how households maintain the acceptance of reclaimed water and new technologies to achieve more efficient and sustainable consumption. Surveys were sent to households, and different statistical analysis techniques were applied. The use of clustering as a mathematical tool has served to obtain three clusters of households with similar characteristics with respect to the previous factors. The first cluster corresponded to households with high knowledge of the integral water cycle and positive attitude to smart devices at home. The second cluster showed low knowledge of the integral water cycle and high sensitivity to price. The third one had average knowledge and predisposition to have a closer relationship with the water company. This classification allows implementing different water demand management strategies tailored to each cluster. Applying a Design Thinking methodology, a web-based prototype has been designed as an ICT tool concerning households. The goal is to achieve greater engagement of households concerning water and align citizens with their city’s sustainability.

Keywords: Design Thinking; hydrosocial contract; web-based prototype; household engagement; Product Service Systems; clustering; ICT; sustainable use of water; customization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:9163-:d:439785

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